Yokohama Chinatown is one of the best places in Japan to eat small, varied food on foot. You can snack as you walk, or sit down for a full meal. Decide which one you want before you pass the gate, and try to eat outside the busiest hours. This guide shows how to choose, how to read the reviews and how to avoid the common mistakes first-time visitors make. Chinatown is part of the Yokohama guide, and the Tokyo guide explains how to reach it from the capital.
Snacks or a full meal
The two ways of eating suit different groups. Choose before you go in, so you do not spend the afternoon deciding.
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Snacks from stalls | Children, short visits, a mixed group | Lines at the busiest times, and some stalls may take only cash |
| Sit-down meal | Adults, a longer rest, a group that wants to talk | Waiting for a table, and last order times |
| Both | A full afternoon | Eating a large meal before you have tried the snacks |
For a first visit, many people choose snacks in the afternoon and a sit-down meal later. This gives you a taste of the area and a proper dinner.
Read reviews on Tabelog
Use Tabelog to find restaurants with many recent reviews. Read the newest reviews first, because menus change. Look at the photos of the dishes, and check whether reviewers mention queues, the size of the group or the price of each dish.
Do not follow a list from an old article. Many shops in Chinatown change, close or open a new branch. A restaurant with a long run of positive recent reviews is usually a safer choice.
Queues and street signs
A queue often means the food is fresh and moves quickly. Join a queue only when you know what you are buying. Look at the menu board, or ask a member of staff what the dish is.
Some stalls ask you to eat at a bench or away from the counter. Follow the sign, and move on after you finish so that others can use the space. Eating while you walk is common in busy streets, but keep your food away from people, and take your rubbish with you.
Choosing on a busy day
On a weekend afternoon the main lanes are crowded, and the best stalls have lines. Choose two or three options before you enter the area, so you can move on quickly if one is full. Look at the menu boards from a distance, because a board can tell you more than a crowded counter.
If the lines are long, switch to a quieter street. The side lanes off the main gate often have smaller shops, and they can be just as good for a snack.
Food needs and allergies
If someone in your group avoids pork, shellfish or spicy food, read the menu closely before you order. Ask staff about the ingredients in a simple way, and show the dish name in Japanese if you have it written down. Do not assume that a dish is free of an ingredient because it looks plain.
Check the menu of each restaurant for vegetarian dishes before you go, and plan one meal that suits everyone rather than relying on the stalls alone.
Menus in the street
You will see people in the street holding menus and inviting you in. This is common in busy streets. You can take a menu if you like the look of it. Before you go in, check the reviews and the price list. You can say no politely and keep walking.
Eating with children
Eat earlier than the dinner rush. Choose stalls with simple dishes that children know, and bring wipes for sticky hands. Plan a short rest before the next part of the walk, because the lanes are crowded and the pavements are narrow.
Children often enjoy the snack stalls more than a sit-down meal. Let them choose one item each, and share the rest.
After you eat: walk to the water
After a meal, the walk to the harbour is short and gives you open views. The skyline across the water is a good end to the afternoon. Keep the walk short if the wind is strong or the sky is dark.
Check first: Check the opening days and last order times on Tabelog or on the shop's own page before you go. Many places close one day a week, and some close early in the evening.
What to do next
Use the Tokyo guide to plan Yokohama as a day from the capital. For the district itself, read the Yokohama guide. The practical guide explains payment and everyday tips, and the planner helps you fit the visit into your trip.
